ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Seamer Matt Henry looks set for another run in the New Zealand test XI with Trent Boult unlikely for the first test against England, starting Thursday (NZ time). Follow ENG vs NZ Test LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell available for first Test, Trent Boult likely to miss Lord’s Test
The Black Caps have confirmed a 15 -player squad to face England in the upcoming three-test series, with the addition of uncapped Michael Bracewell as 16th man for the first test starting at Lord’s in London.
Boult featured in the Indian Premier League T20 final for the Rajasthan Royals on Monday (NZ time), who lost to first-year team, the Gujarat Titans, by seven wickets. The left-arm swing bowler was miserly with the ball, taking 1-14 from four overs in the losing effort.
He arrived in London on Tuesday (NZT) and is considered unlikely to be available for the first test. With so little time between the IPL decider and first test, Boult would have virtually no time to prepare properly for the match.
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell available for first Test, Trent Boult likely to miss Lord’s Test
“Trent arrives in later today and we’ll see how he scrubs up, but we’ve had conversations leading up into this,” Stead said. “It’s part of the world and the way it is right now and I guess with the complexity of putting schedules together and then you have the IPL on top of that, it just adds another layer to it all.
“We’ve been through this before with different players. I guess it’s not something that’s new to us and we’ll deal with that tomorrow and work out what’s best for us going forward with Trent Boult in particular.”
Henry, who filled in for Boult in the last two tests of the home summer against South Africa due to the birth of his third child and a lack of bowling workloads, could step in for him in the first test. Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is another possible option, depending on the pitch and conditions.
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell available for first Test, Trent Boult likely to miss Lord’s Test
Henry, who has played 17 tests, took his chance in the South African series, capturing career-best match figures of 9-55 in the first test in Christchurch, where he took 7-23 in the first innings. He also took five wickets in the second match of the series, which New Zealand lost by 198 runs.
Bracewell is covering for Henry Nicholls who is in doubt for the first test as he continues his recovery from his right calf injury. With Nicholls in doubt, Canterbury team-mate Daryl Mitchell is set to replace him and bat five.
“At the moment, we think it’s unlikely that Henry will play,” Stead said. “Obviously with the Covid, that just put him back a week or so from where we were wanting, but he is progressing really well. I think he’s an unlikely starter, so we will hold Michael Bracewell here as extra cover within the squad.”
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell available for first Test, Trent Boult likely to miss Lord’s Test
Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, and Rachin Ravindra have been released from the initial 20 player squad and will disperse in the coming days. Hamish Rutherford was granted an early release last week to link up with the Leicestershire Foxes in the T20 Vitality Blast.
Black Caps test squad: Kane Williamson (c) Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Cam Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Will Young, Michael Bracewell (first test only).
ENG vs NZ 1st Test: Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell available for first Test, Trent Boult likely to miss Lord’s Test;
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